Steam pressing iron



Feb 26, 1957 R. VERA-MEGE STEAM PRESSING IRON '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 29, 1954 m m w c 4 u a Mm 272mm 49m STEAM PRESSING IRON RafaelVera-Mege, Concepcion, Chile Application June 25!, 1954, Serial No.440,218

2 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to electric irons, and moreparticularly to an improved steam iron.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved steampressing iron which is simple in construction, which provides properdistribution of steam in the article of clothing being pressed, andwhich is provided with safety means which prevents the steam pressure inthe iron from rising to an excessive value.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved steampressing iron which involves inexpensive components, which is durable inconstruction, which provides an effective distribution of steam throughthe article of clothing being pressed and which avoids the channeling ofsteam through the plies of the clothing article when the clothing is ina folded condition or is of multiple-ply construction, and which isprovided with injection means for developing sufiicient steam pressureto penetrate through heavy clothing articles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved steampressing iron which is easy to operate, which is provided with means fordeveloping suflicient steam pressure to penetrate relatively heavyclothes, which provides a controlled amount of moisture in the steam,preventing excessive drying of the clothes being ironed, and beingarranged so that the discharge of steam from the iron occurs by contactwith the article of clothing being ironed and thus provides an eflicientdistribution or" the steam through the clothing article.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved steam pressing ironconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken through aportion of the steam iron of Figure 1, and showing the constructionaldetails of the injection cylinder and associated parts, employed on theimproved steam iron.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan detail view showingamodified form of water injection nozzle which may be employed with theinjection device illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line l -4 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken through aportion of the steam chamber of a steam pressing iron according to thepresent invention showing one form of steam discharge valve which may beemployed in the sole plate of the iron.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional detail view, similarto Figure 5, showing another form of steam discharge valve structurewhich maybe employed in the improved steam iron of the presentinvention.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view, similar to Figures 5 and 6,andv illustrating still another form of steam discharge valve which maybe employed in the steam iron of the present invention.

2,782,537 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 Figure 8 is a fragmentary verticalcross sectional view, similar to Figure 7, showing a furthermodification of steam discharge valve construction which may be employedin the steam iron of this invention.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view, similar to Figures 5 to 8,showing a still further modified form of steam discharge valve in thesole plate of the steam pressing iron.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view, similar toFigure 9, showing a still further modified form of discharge valve whichmay be employed in the sole plate of the pressing iron.

Figure 11 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the steamchamber of an improved steam pressing iron according to the presentinvention, showing a spring loaded safety valve employed in the soleplate of the iron, said safety valve being shown in open position toallow steam under excessive pressure to escape from the steam chamber ofthe iron.

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 11, showing thesafety valve in its normal closed position.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken through the steam chamber of asteam pressing iron, showing a modified form of safety valve.

Figure 14 is a bottom perspective view of a steam pressing ironaccording to the present invention, showing the manner in which thesteam discharge valve are distributed around the Sole plate of the iron.

Referring to the drawings, a steam pressing iron according to thepresent invention is designated generally at 11 in Figure I. The steampressing iron comprises a suitable body 12 provided with conventionalheating means, said body being formed with a water storage chamber 13, asteam generating chamber ltd, and a sole plate 15, the water chamberhaving the bottom wall 16, and said water chamber 13 communicating withthe steam chamber 14 by a water injection nozzle 17 provided in thebottom end of a water injection cylinder 18.

As shown in Figure 2, the cylinder 18 is vertically mounted and projectsfrom the top wall 19 of the body 12, the top end of the cylinder beingcontained in a housing 20, as shown in Figure 2, the top wall 21 of saidcylinder being spaced below the centrally apertured top wall 22 of thehousing 29. The upper portion of the cylinder 18 is provided with thevent apertures 23, and the top portion of the cylinder and the wall ofthe housing 24) are apertured at 24 to provide free communication of theupper portion of the cylinder with the atmosphere.

As shown, the apertures 23 are located in the upper portion of the waterchamber 13, thus allowing atmospheric pressure free access to the upperportion of the water chamber 13.

A valve chamber 25 is provided adjacent the lower end of the cylinder18, said valve chamber communicating with the lower end of the cylinderby an aperture 25, as shown in Figure 2, the valve chamber being incommunication with the water chamber 13 by an aperture 27 in the valvewall, as shown. Designated at 23 is a movable valve disc which normallyis spaced a short distance below the aperture 27, allowing water to flowfrom the water chamber and through the aperture 26 into the lowerportion of the cylinder 18. When pressure is developed in the lowerportion of the cylinder, the valve disc 28 is elevated into sealingengagement with the top wall of the valve chamber, closing off theaperture 27, and confining the water in the lower portion of thecylinder. As shown in Figure 2, the nozzle 17 has a restricted bottomorifice portion 27' through which water may be discharged into the steamchamber 14, located above the sole plate 15, said sole plate beingheated by suitable conventional heating means, whereby the waterdischarging into the chamber 14 will be vaporized and will be convertedinto steam.

A piston 39 is provided in the cylinder 18, said piston being providedwith the vertically extending piston rod 29 which extends slidablythrough the upwardly extending annular flange portion 32 providedcentrally in the top wall 21 of the cylinder 18.

Designated at 33 is a hollow plunger having the bottom flange 34, thehollow plunger extending through a central aperture in the top wall 22of housing 20, the flange 34 limiting the plunger 33 against upwardremoval from the housing 20, as is clearly shown in Figure 2, Slidablyextending through the hollow plunger 33 is the flanged collar member 35through which the top end of the piston rod 29 extends, said piston rodbeing fixedly secured to the collar 35 as at 36, as shown in Figure 2. Acoiled spring 37 surrounds the piston rod below the collar 35, saidspring bearing between the collar 35 and the cylinder top wall 21, andanother coiled spring 38 is provided in the hollow plunger 33, thespring 38 bearing between the top wall of the plunger and the collar 35.

By exerting a downward force on the plunger 33, the piston rod 29 may beforced downwardly, causing the piston 30 to be moved downwardly in thecylinder 28, and causing the pressure in the lower portion of thecylinder 18 to be built up sufliciently to elevate valve plate 28against the top wall of valve housing 25. The pressure applied by thepiston 30 thus causes water to be injected into the steam chamber 14,whereby added steam pressure may be developed, as required to penetratethrough relatively heavy clothing articles or materials which requiresubstantial steam pressure for proper penetration of the steamtherethrough.

The hollow plunger 33 is formed with a means or notch 40 in its wallportion, said notch being engageable with means on the housing or theedge of the central aperture 41 in the top wall 22 of housing 20, withthe plunger 33 tilted, whereby the plunger 33 may be locked in adepressed position, if so desired, as where it is desired to maintaindownward pressure on the plunger rod 29 for a period of time.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the discharge nozzle in the bottom of thecylinder, shown at 17', may be provided with the reduced bottom orificeportion 27 which is formed with a conical valve seat 42. A cone valve 43carried by a vertical valve rod 44 may be provided, the top end of therod 44 being supported on a cruciform member 45 whose arms engage thetop rim of the nozzle 17'. A coiled spring 46 surrounds the rod 44,hearing between the cruciform member 45 and the shouldered bottomportion 47 of the nozzle member 17, biasing the cone valve element 43into seating engagement with the valve seat 42. When the liquid in thelower portion of the cylinder 13 is placed under compression, by thedownward movement of the piston 31), as above described, the increasedpressure causes the cone valve element 43 to be lowered, whereby thewater may be discharged from the orifice portion 27 into the subjacentsteam chamber 14.

As shown, a suitable lock nut 48 is employed, to secure the nozzlemember to the bottom wall 49 of the cylinder 18. As shown in bothFigures 2 and 4, the nozzle member is threadedly engaged in a boss 50provided in the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14, the bottom wall 49of the cylinder 18 being provided with a central aperture receiving theupper portion of the nozzle, and the lock nut 48 is engaged on the upperportion of the nozzle, whereby the bottom wall of the cylinder 18 isclamped between the lock nut 48 and the top rim of the boss 50.

As shown in Figure 14, the sole plate 15 of the iron is formed withspaced steam discharge apertures 52 which may be arranged adjacent theedge of the sole plate, at the forward portion thereof, in the mannershown in Figure 14, or which may have any other suitable distributionover the sole plate. In the form of the invtillt n illustrated in Figure5, the sole plate 15a has the valve balls 53 seated on annular valveseats 54 provided in the apertures 52, said balls 53 normally projectingbelow the bottom plane of the sole plate 15a, whereby the balls will beelevated by contact with an article of clothing being pressed, forexample, the article of clothing 56, shown in Figure 5, allowing steamto be discharged past the elevated ball 53 and to penetrate into thearticle 56. As will be apparent from Figure 5, steam is admitted only atthose areas of the article which are engaged by balls 53, whereby nosteam escapes from the sole plate apertures at points other than thoseactually contacted by the article being pressed. This prevents steamfrom discharging laterally into the article and prevents channeling ofthe steam through the plies of the article of clothing. Instead, thesteam is forced to penetrate actually through the fabric and to providethe desired steaming effect on the fabric.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6, threaded valvebushings 57 are provided, said bushings being engaged in suitablyarranged apertures in the sole plate, each bushing 57 having a conicalvalve seat 58 on which is disposed a ball valve 59, said ball valvebeing biased downwardly by a coiled spring 60 acting between the top ofthe ball 59 and the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14. The ball 59projects sufficiently below the bottom plane of the sole plate- 15b sothat the ball will be elevated when an article of clothing is engagedthereby, in the same manner as in Figure 5.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7, respective vertical,vaned valve members 61 are disposed in the respective apertures 52, saidvalve members 61 having the circular top flanges 63 which normallyoverlie the margins of the apertures 52 and seal said apertures, thedepending portions of the valves 61 extending below the bottom plane ofthe sole plate 15c, whereby the valves 61 will be elevated by actualcontact with the article 56, allowing steam to be discharged from thesteam chamber 14 into the fabric of the article, whereas those valvemembers 61 not engaged by the article are held in closed positions bythe steam pressure in the steam chamber 14.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, the valve members61 are disposed in bushings 65 threadedly engaged in the sole plate, andcoiled springs 66 are provided between the top flanges 63 of the valvesand the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14, biasing the valves towardclosed positions.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 9, the sole plate 15is provided with the downwardly tapering valve openings 52' in which areseated the downwardly tapering valve element 67, said elements normallyprojecting below the bottom plane of the sole plate 15e, and beingelevated in response to contact with the article of clothing 56 beingironed, whereby steam is permitted to escape from the steam chamber 14through the apertures 52 into contact with the article being ironed. Inthe form of the invention illustrated in Figure 10, bushing members 68are threadably engaged in the sole plate 157', said bushing membersbeing provided with the downwardly tapering valve seats, shown at 69,the valve members 67 being biased into sealing engagement with the valveseats 69 by coiled springs 70 provided between the top ends of thevalves 67 and the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14. As in thepreviously described form of the invention, the valve elements 67project below the bottom plane of the sole plate 151, whereby said valveelements 69 are elevated by contact with the article of clothing beingpressed. 7

The sole plate 15g is provided with a pressure-responsive safety valve,designated generally at 71, in Figure 11, said safety valve comprising acone valve element 72 carried on the valve rod 73 which extends througha vertical passage 74 in the sole plate 15. The top end of the rod 73has a transverse pin 74 engaged therethrough, and acting between the pin74 and the sole plate 15 is a coiled spring 75 which biases the rod 73upwardly and urges the cone 72 against a conical valve sea-t 76, thevalve seat being formed centrally in a countersunk portion 77 providedin the bottom surface of the sole plate 15g. Normally, as shown inFigure 12, the conical valve element 72 is held in sealing engagementwith the valve seat 76. When excessive pressure develops in the steamchamber 14, the pressure will overcome the force of the spring 75,causing the valve 72 to be moved downwardly, allowing steam under excesspressure to escape from the steam chamber 14, as is clearly shown inFigure 11;

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 13, a bushingmember 77' is threadedly engaged in the sole plate 15m, said bushingmember being formed with the passage 74' and having the valve rod 73disposed in said passage, said valve rod carrying the cone valve 72' atits bottom end engageable with a conical valve seat formed in the bottomof the bushing 77. A coiled spring 75' biases the cone element 72'toward sealing position, as in the previously described form of thesafety valve shown in Figures 11 and 12. Under excess pressure, the conevalve 72' is forced downwardly, to allow the steam to discharge from thesteam chamber 14.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved steam pressing ironhave been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understoodthat various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occurto those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a steam pressing iron, a steam generating chamber having a topWall, a water storage chamber having a top wall and -a bottom wallarranged in superimposed relation with respect to said steam chamberwith the bottom wall spaced from the top wall of said steam chamber, acylinder extending vertically through the top and bottom walls of saidwater chamber and having the lower end portion extending into the spacebetween the bottom wall of said water chamber and the top wall of saidsteam chamber and having the upper end portion exteriorly of the topwall of said water chamber, a nozzle projecting through the top wall ofsaid steam chamber and connected in communication with the lower endportion of said cylinder, there being an aperture in the portion of saidcylinder between the top and bottom walls of said Water chamber adjacentthe bottom wall of said water chamber, an upstanding housing exteriorlyof said Water chamber and having the lower end portion surrounding theupper end portion of said cylinder and having the upper end portionexteriorly of the upper end portion of said cylinder, a piston slidablewithin said cylinder, a piston rod extending vertically and slidablythrough the upper end portion of said cylinder and the upper end portionof said housing and having the lower end fixedly secured to said piston,a plunger mounted in the upper end portion of said housing for up anddown movement and operatively connected to the upper end of said pistonrod, a valve chamber in said water chamber and connected incommunication with said cylinder p'or tion aperture, said valve chamberbeing provided with an aperture for ingress therethrough of watercontained in said water chamber, and a valve in said valve chambernormally in open position with respect to the valve chamber aperture andmovable to closed position with respect to the last mentioned aperturein response to pressure flowing through the cylinder aperture.

2. In a steam pressing iron, a steam generating chamber having a topwall, a water storage chamber having a top wall and a bottom wallarranged in superimposed relation with respect to said steam chamberwith the bottom wall spaced from the top wall of said steam chamber, acylinder extending vertically through the top and bottom walls of saidwater chamber and having the lower end portion extending into the spacebetween the bottom wall of said water chamber and the top wall of saidsteam chamber and having the upper end portion exteriorly of the topwall of said water chamber, a nozzle projecting through the top wall ofsaid steam chamber and connected in communication with the lower endportion of said cylinder, there being an aperture in the portion of saidcylinder between the top and bottom walls of said water chamber adjacentthe bottom wall of said water chamber, an upstanding housing exteriorlyof said water chamber and having the lower end portion surrounding theupper end portion of said cylinder and having the upper end portionexteriorly of the upper end portion of said cylinder, a piston slid-ablewithin said cy-linder, a piston rod extending vertically and slidablythrough the upper end portion of said cylinder and the upper end portionof said housing and having the lower end fixedly secured to said piston,a hollow plunger mounted in the upper end portion of said housing for upand down movement and operatively connected to the upper end of saidpiston rod, a valve chamber in said water chamber and connected incommunication with said cylinder portion aperture, said valve chamberbeing provided with an aperture for ingress therethrough of watercontained in said water chamber, a valve in said valve chamber normallyin open position with respect to the valve chamber aperture and movableto closed position with respect to the last mentioned aperture inresponse to pressure flowing through the cylinder aperture, and means onsaid plunger engageable with means provided on said housing forrelea-sably locking the plunger in its down movement position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,155,472 Temple Oct. 5, 1915 1,292,510 Peth June 28, 1919 1,793,750S-ayles Feb. 24, 1931 1,843,568 Ledbetter Feb. 2, 1932 2,045,926 ReutterJune 30, 1936 2,113,695 Krannan Apr. 12, 1938 2,317,706 Woodman Apr. 27,1943 2,334,222 Schoell Nov. 16, 1943 2,483,579 Green Oct. 4, 19492,628,005 Keesnan Feb. 10, 1953

